AUSTIN, Texas — Oscar Tunjo wasn’t even planning to be at Circuit of The Americas but when the checkered flag fell on IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge qualifying under cover of darkness on Friday night, the Colombian found himself on the pole position.
Tunjo posted a best time of 1 minute, 30.150 seconds (95.840 mph) in the No. 31 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08 to earn the top P3 and overall starting position for the first race of Saturday’s VP Racing SportsCar Challenge doubleheader on the 2.4-mile COTA layout. Tunjo was pressed into service this week to drive the No. 31 entry when Markus Pommer had to withdraw due to a bad cold.
Tunjo bested teammate and P3 points leader Valentino Catalano by 0.028 seconds to lead a 1-2 sweep for Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports. Tunjo brings two years of LMP3 experience from the European Le Mans Series and was pleased to get his first laps at Circuit of The Americas.
“It was pretty dark,” Tunjo said of the 15-minute qualifying session. “I’m happy to be here this weekend replacing Markus, who is ill. We send him a really speedy recovery. I’m happy to be on the pole.
“Tomorrow is when it counts in a 45-minute race, so hopefully we can stick in the front row for both cars. Big thank you to the Gebhardt team for a great car today.”
Catalano’s best lap was 1:30.178 (95.810 mph) to qualify second. He swept both races of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season-opening doubleheader at Daytona in January, and will start from the pole in tomorrow’s second race by virtue of having the quickest second-fastest lap. Tunjo will line up on the outside of the front row for that race.
Jonathan Woolridge rounded out the top three in P3 qualifying with a best lap of 1:32.497 (93.408 mph) aboard the No. 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320.
Tacos are particularly popular in the greater Austin area, so it stands to reason that the “taco-powered” Turner BMW of Jake Walker would be quick at Circuit of The Americas.
True to form, Walker motored the No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 to the GTDX pole position by posting a best lap of 1:32.604 (93.300 mph). Walker will start both of Saturday’s 45-minute races from the GTDX class pole, as his second-fastest lap also bested his fellow competitors.
“It was a lot of great teamwork with Turner Motorsport and BMW,” Walker said. “They’ve given me a great car once again. Working with (Turner’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver) Robby Foley and the guys is awesome. We have a really strong car right now and we’re looking to carry this momentum forward.”
Walker has shown plenty of speed in the early going of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season, but he missed the first race of the Daytona doubleheader due to an incident. As a result, he’s facing a steep climb from ninth in the GTDX point standings coming into the weekend.
“These are great drivers,” said Walker of his GTDX competition. “(Adam) Adelson, right beside me, (AJ) Muss, lots and lots of great names here. And having to navigate the P3 drivers and the tons of GT4 drivers, it’s tough.”
Adelson, who swept both ends of the Daytona doubleheader, will line up second for both races in GTDX. Adelson’s best qualifying lap in the No. 24 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R was a 1:32.875 (93.028 mph). Matias Perez Companc qualified third in the No. 50 Af Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 at 1:33.037 (92.866 mph).
Kiko Porto has now been first in every GSX race and qualifying session so far this season.
After sweeping both races and qualifying at Daytona, Porto was at it again in qualifying at Circuit of The Americas. As the last few rays of sunlight disappeared into darkness on Friday night, Porto piloted his No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 to a best lap of 1:39.252 (87.051 mph) to take the pole position. His second-fastest lap will keep him on pole for Saturday’s nightcap also.
“After NASCAR went on the track, we were afraid a little bit of changes on the track, and it definitely changed a little bit with their different tire compound,” Porto said. “It changed a little bit the balance of the car. The car was much more loose on the rear, but I tried to adapt as best as possible and definitely with, like, half the track in the dark already and the last three laps, it was awesome. It was my first time experiencing COTA at night, or at least half-night. It was awesome and I’m pretty happy with the team.”
Porto’s teammate, Ian Porter qualified second in GSX with a best lap of 1:39.907 (86.480 mph) in the No. 68 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO1. Steven Clemons made it a top-three sweep for Toyota Supras with a best lap of 1:40.331 (85.265 mph) in the No. 76 BSI Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.
